The Three Wise Men: And the Birth of Jesus

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying: 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.'"

These words begin a story that will be familiar to many, whether from images on Christmas cards or school nativity plays, or more directly from Christian teaching. As often with images associated with Christmas, they have the power to evoke...